Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is set to bolster its tourism ties with Middle Eastern countries by adopting a model successfully implemented by Royal Brunei Airlines, as announced by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the “Brunei + Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu” model, which Royal Brunei Airlines has effectively employed, offers travelers a complimentary overnight stay in Brunei before they continue to destinations like Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu. This initiative has seen positive market feedback and was recently expanded to include Kuching.
Minister Tiong stated that after observing the model’s success, Malaysia plans to replicate it for both Middle Eastern and Indian markets in collaboration with Royal Brunei Airlines, aiming to attract more international visitors. Discussions during the 2025 Arabian Travel Market between Tiong, Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, and Royal Brunei Airlines’ UAE regional manager, Jalal Sanour Rahman, led to an initial agreement to adapt the ‘Brunei +’ model for the UAE market.
The proposed package will target the 4.5 million Indian expatriates residing in the UAE, offering a seven-day, six-night tour that covers Brunei and Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia will sponsor a free one-night stay in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching as part of this package. The minister expressed his goal to attract at least one million Indian expatriates from the UAE to visit both countries, with plans to finalize the package by the end of the year, supporting the vision to welcome 45 million international tourists for Visit Malaysia 2026.
To aid promotional efforts, Tiong announced that Tourism Malaysia will provide 30 familiarization trip slots to Royal Brunei Airlines, allowing their representatives to explore new attractions across various Malaysian states. The familiarization trip is tentatively scheduled for September or October, with the itinerary expected to be finalized by the end of August.
Additionally, Tiong suggested that Royal Brunei Airlines consider establishing more connecting routes, such as direct flights from Dubai to Brunei, with connections to destinations in Peninsular Malaysia like Melaka, Johor, Pahang, and Perak. These routes could be facilitated through codeshare agreements or chartered flights, positioning Malaysia and Brunei as key gateways for regional travel. This strategy aligns with efforts to develop the Muslim-friendly tourism segment between both countries, with the ministry working closely with the Transport Ministry to expedite approvals for new routes.